Adverb

Phrases

GRAMMAR

LEVEL NUMBER LANGUAGE

Advanced C1_2041G_EN English
Goals

■ Can recognise and explain

what adverb phrases are.

■ Can use adverbs of

manner and frequency to
modify adjectives and
adverbs to express a more
complex idea clearly.

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We use adverbs to modify meaning. An
adverb phrase is simply two or more
words that work together as an adverb.
In this lesson you will find out more
about adverb phrases, and how to use
them.

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Reviewing adverbs

■ We use adverbs to modify the meaning of verbs, adjectives, clauses and other
adverbs.
■ Adverbs help us express place, time, frequency, and the manner of an action.

She looked quickly on the table but the keys were not there. They must
be somewhere in the house, she thought. Often she had this same
problem: She could never remember where she had left her keys. It was
a nightmare!

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What is an adverb phrase?

An adverb phrase is simply two or more words that work together as an adverb.

■ He almost never comes to parties,

he feels awkward and doesn’t enjoy
having to talk to people he doesn’t
know well.

■ She fled from the scene of the

crime as fast as the wind.

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Adverb phrases

Adverb phrases can help us answer questions about how, when, why and where?

How? He moved very slowly, like a snail.

When? You can come to visit me any time.

Why? I reminded John about the party, in case he forgets.

Where? It’s on the corner, just over the bridge.

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Adverb phrases – other uses

We can also use adverb phrases to express certainty or necessity, to give a point
of view, or to help evaluate something.

The meeting will more than likely be conducted in English.

Unfortunately for me, I cannot speak Japanese. Just personally, I think
our employer should pay for language lessons. We travel to Japan a lot
for business and it would be nice to be able to communicate better.

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Revising adverbs

With your teacher see how many different adverbs you can
think of for each category below. Can you think of at least 10
for each? An example is given on each card to start you off.

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Build your own phrases

Take the two lists of adverbs you made for how? and extent?
from the last activity. See which ones go together - these are
adverb phrases which describe manner in detail.

adverb: extent adverb: how

very happily

quite quickly

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Using adverb phrases

Can you answer these questions using an adverb phrase?

The train was

Will it be cold in What do you
cancelled so
Russia in think about the
when did you
winter? election results?
get to work?

How does Why won’t he How fast did

traffic move in a be at the the half price
traffic jam? wedding? computers sell?

How often do
Was their trip Did you enjoy
you go to the
fun? the opera?
cinema?

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Using adverb phrases

Look at the sentences below. Think of the adverb phrases you

found in the previous slide. Can you now add an adverb phrase
to these sentences?

It will be cold in
Their trip went She sang the
Moscow in
well. aria.
December.

The cars were My sister got to

I am surprised.
moving. work.

The computers He cannot

I go to the
had attend because
cinema.
disappeared. he is ill.

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Using adverb phrases to modify verbs

■ The most common way we use adverb phrases is to modify verbs.

■ In the examples below, each adverb phrase explains something about the verb.

■ I see my cousin only occasionally.

■ I visit the doctor very regularly.

■ I go to the cinema quite often.

If you ask how often do you see your

cousin, visit the doctor or go to the
cinema, the answer is an adverb
phrase each time.

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Using adverb phrases to modify verbs

■ We also use adverb phrases to modify the verb to be.

■ Often these adverb phrases include adverbs of place.

Examples of adverb phrases

The post office is over there, by the bank.

It’s ok, the keys are right here in my pocket.

She’s across the street at the moment, can I

take a message?

We’re over here, can’t you see us?

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Using adverb phrases to modify adjectives and adverbs

We also use adverb phrases to modify adjectives and adverbs.

They have been very happily married for 10 years.

■ Very happily describes how they are married.

He was running fast, like the wind.

■ Like the wind describes how fast he was running.

Laura opened the box hastily, but quite carefully.

■ Quite carefully describes the hastiness with which Laura opens the box.

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 similes and adverb phrases

A simile is a form of comparison using like or as. Similes often function as

adverb phrases since similes usually explain how something has been
done.

Although Naomi was terrified, she acted as bravely as a lion.

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Discuss the sentence

Examine the following sentences. Identify the adverb phrases

along with what each adverb phrase is modifying in the
sentence – verb, adjective or adverb? What is the purpose of
each adverb phrase?

1. Your book is just over there, by that armchair.

2. I woke up this morning at the crack of dawn.

3. Barely anybody we know showed up at the party last night.

4. Mark opened his present surprisingly cautiously.

5. More often than not, Luke is too tired to go for a walk after work.

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 Discuss the sentence

Examine the following sentences. Identify the adverb phrases

along with what each adverb phrase is modifying in the
sentence – verb, adjective or adverb? What is the purpose of
each adverb phrase?

6. Mary moves around particularly carefully since the accident happened.

7. Jenny tends to eat messily, like a happy pig.

8. This laptop performs rather well for the price!

9. Carrie trod softly across the carpet, quiet as a mouse.

10. It was with great regret that they sent their letter of complaint.

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Using adverb phrases

Look at the adverb phrases on the cards below.

Can you use each one in a sentence?

over there right here really easily

almost never awfully slowly in silence

quite extremely with great

meticulously slowly regret

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Talking about your habits

Look at the topics on the cards below. Using adverb phrases

describe your habits to your teacher. Talk about when and how
often you do, or don’t do, certain activities. Use as many
different adverb phrases as you can!

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Similes and adverb phrases

Use the images below to help you think of some similes that
could be used as adverb phrases.

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Storytelling

Look at the pictures below. Can you invent a story about each picture?
Use an adverb phrase from any of the previous slides in the first
sentence of each story and use more adverb phrases throughout your
narrative.

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Using adverb phrases

Some adverb phrases are useful ways to express that a feeling or mood is not
especially strong.

I sort of feel like staying home tonight, I’m tired.

I kind of liked the book, but it wasn’t brilliant.

Bernard is right, to some extent.

They only vaguely understood, but I think they were

still upset.

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Useful adverb phrases

■ We use adverb phrases very often in English. At an advanced level it‘s a great
idea to incorporate more adverb phrases into your English. There are some
useful examples below.

■ After a while you will get used to

wearing glasses.

■ Before she knew it she was

managing the whole shop.

■ Surprisingly enough he tidied his

room just as he‘d been asked to do.

■ It‘s important to get this job done

by any means possible.

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 quite + noun phrase

Adverb phrases can be used to modify other phrases, such as noun

phrases and prepositional phrases. The adverb quite in English can be
used to express the idea that there is something special or significant
about something. It‘s a more informal type of speech.

That‘s quite a drop, make sure you don‘t stand too close to the
edge!

That‘s quite the outfit, isn‘t it!

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Over to you

Can you respond to the situations below using adverb phrases?

What would you say in response?

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Practice time

Can you make a sentence with each of these adverb phrases?

quite slowly like a snail surprisingly well

as quietly as
sort of to some extent
possible

kind of very sadly after a while

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 Telling a story

In this class you have learnt a lot

of new adverb phrases. Now
think of your favourite fairytale,
try to retell the story to your
teacher using as many adverb
phrases as you can!

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Reflect on the lesson

Take a moment to review any new

vocabulary, phrases, language
structures or grammar points you have
come across for the first time in this
lesson.

Review them with your teacher one more

time to make sure you don’t forget!

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Homework

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Practice time

Pick your favourite adverb phrases from this class, or create

some of your own, and write 15 sentences using adverb
phrases. Be as creative as you can be!

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Homework evaluation activity

Which parts of this lesson did you find most challenging, and
which were easiest? Which parts did you enjoy the most, and
the least? Give your feedback here.

–
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